Gene Editing

Trump Orders Mosquitoes and Rats Out of the District of Columbia

Time to deploy gene drives to eliminate these disease-carrying pests?

Ronald Bailey | 9.30.2026 4:30 PM

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President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Tuesday directing various federal agencies to "develop and implement a campaign" across Washington, D.C., "to, by 2028, reduce the Asian tiger mosquito, Egyptian mosquito, and other invasive mosquito populations, as appropriate, by 90 percent and reduce the tick population by 50 percent, with further reductions as practicable." As a part-time resident of the District, I can only say, "Hooray!"

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